Here's how you can handle feedback in Venture Capital without becoming defensive.

I recently pitched an investment that was met with unexpected criticism. The feedback was tough, pointing out overlooked flaws in my analysis. Instead of defending my approach, I paused, asked for specific examples, and listened—really listened. This shift from defensiveness to curiosity allowed me to refine my strategy significantly. My next pitch was much better, improved by insights that only candid feedback could spark. This experience taught me that embracing criticism is not just about improvement; it's about transforming setbacks into success.

Remember, feedback from anyone is mostly opinion. Usually requires the skill of context and distilling what bits are more relevant than others to really get the benefit. It’s hard to hear no, or be rejected, however no is better than an “unclear maybe” as those are time wasters. Stay open minded to the feedback, it’s merely data. Take the no in stride. It doesn’t matter how many nos but those who say yes. Thank them for the feedback, evaluate which bits are more relevant than others and keep building.

I recently got a gentle no from a VC. Their response was that what I was building was really interesting but found business model hard to execute and therefor not suited for what they would like to back. I asked for feedback on the business model and I am still waiting for a response. It has been two months. Most VCs would most likely ignore your email after a no. I still advise to send a gracious request for feedback.

I messed up my first pitch and got some tough feedback. Instead of getting upset, I asked for clear examples of what was wrong. This helped me understand my mistakes better and improve my plan. When I pitched again, it was much better because I listened to the advice. This showed me that it's helpful to accept criticism and learn from it.

When turned down by a venture fund, entrepreneurs should respond professionally and constructively. First, seek feedback to understand the reasons for the rejection, which can provide valuable insights for improvement. Maintain a positive relationship with the fund, as circumstances can change, and future opportunities may arise. Reflect on the feedback to refine your pitch, business model, or product. Continue networking and pitching to other investors, using the experience to strengthen your approach. Stay persistent and resilient, as rejection is a common part of the entrepreneurial journey.

Watch some of the great entrepreneurs (e.g., Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, etc.) respond to (good) questions. You can literally see the gears in their heads turning. They don't just react. They think. Mull over the question. And respond thoughtfully. You should do the same. It's not only how you manage your image as a thoughtful person, but it also protects from blurting "stupid" answers.

Depois de ouvir o feedback, reserve um momento para refletir sobre ele antes de responder. Essa pausa permite que você processe as informa??es e evita rea??es bruscas que podem parecer defensivas. Reflita se o feedback é acionável, como ele se alinha com seus objetivos e o que você pode aprender com ele.

Reflecting on feedback is important, but don't wait until the end to ask questions. Clarifying things as you go helps you understand better and shows you're engaged. It can be hard to go back to topics mentioned at the start. Asking questions throughout shows maturity and a commitment to growth, which is highly valued in the VC community.

Trust your instincts! The best strategy for reflection is to form a context. Honest feedback never hurts, so evaluate the credibility and motivation of those giving the feedback first.

I'd also say that in reflecting it's also paramount to remember that you are the expert in your business and any investor only gets a super narrow window. Therefore, take their feedback on openly but don't automatically assume it's right as nobody external will ever have the same context of that business as the founders that's living it every day and night.

The classic way to deal with any negatives and turn them is clarify - sympathise - turn. Ever thought about doing this to VC feedback. Personally I'd respect the hustle.

Se houver algum aspecto do feedback que n?o esteja claro, n?o hesite em pedir esclarecimentos. Isso mostra que você está engajado e realmente interessado em entender os pontos que est?o sendo feitos. Esclarecer mal-entendidos também pode evitar que você se sinta injustamente criticado e fa?a suposi??es incorretas sobre a inten??o do feedback.

In the venture capital world, effective communication is crucial, and seeking clarification is an important aspect of this process. Since VCs are human and their views can be subjective, calmly addressing each piece of feedback and clarifying any doubts can help build trust and maintain a strong relationship. By explaining your reasoning and addressing different perspectives thoughtfully, you demonstrate leadership and foster long-term trust with VCs.

Asking questions to clarify doubts is important. It shows you're engaged and want to understand the feedback fully. This prevents misunderstandings and helps you avoid feeling unfairly criticized. In the VC world, clear communication is crucial, so asking questions during the feedback process is essential. This is why I emphasize asking questions as you go.

Clarifying doubts isn't just about providing an answer to the question, but also truly understanding what is being asked. Create a dialogue by diving deeper into their thought process so you can clarify and provide a response whether it is the first time you are hearing the question or the 100th. They may be looking for a specific answer that fits their background, thesis, or challenges that their current portfolio companies have had to overcome.

Entrepreneurs deeply care about their projects: this their life missions, to which they are strongly bonded. As a result, critiquing their project can feel very personal very quickly. That’s why it’s important to separate personal feelings from objective analysis when receiving feedback. Remember that critiques are typically aimed at the investment opportunity or strategy, not at the individuals or their capabilities. By prioritizing feedback based on facts and data, and staying open to adjusting assumptions based on new information, you can better manage emotional responses and make better decisions.

Adopt a Growth Mindset. View feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism. Embrace the idea that feedback can help you improve and advance your skills. Tip: Remind yourself that everyone has areas to improve, and feedback is a tool for development.

Keeping perspective is crucial. Remember, feedback is just one person's opinion and they could be wrong about some aspects. It's not always about you or your idea's worth, but how it fits in the broader market and investment strategies. By depersonalizing feedback, you can focus on its relevance to your business goals.

I think the key to perspective is to really understand that in 99% of cases, it isn't personal. It may be personal to you but if it's feedback from an investor, and they don't like the investment, that's all it is.

Composure is how you win people over. You never want to appear flustered when someone gives you feedback. How to keep cool? Here are two tricks: 1) imagine calm and composed people (dignitaries or mentors) you know + respect, and mimic how they would respond in such situations; and 2) think to yourself, "It's not personal, they just want what I want, which is what's best for my business!"

Hearing no is hard. Especially when you think it’s either misinformed or the underlying rationale, in your opinion wrong. A negatively emotional or aggressive response when you hear no, although might be cathartic in the moment of expression is likely to further buttress the point of the investor for passing. Also, you’ve cemented a momentary emotion in writing, in a way that probably doesn’t best reflect you. If you need to take a breather before responding, do. A calm and composed response is in your best interest; A great response has a combination of 1) Thanks for responding 2) Request for feedback 3) Ways to stay updated in case things change (investor newsletter for example)

You may not have the answer to every question that has been presented to you. Create action items to review after the conversation so that you are prepared for your next call. Take some time to work with your team, advisors, and mentors when applicable to come up with a plan to address their concerns and execute them.

Separate ego from feedback. Feedback is about improvement, not an attack on your character. It's easy to take feedback personally, but real VC leaders understand the distinction. When you let your ego take over, you miss valuable insights and become defensive. Here's how to keep your ego in check: Stay objective and focus on the content of the feedback, not the delivery or the person giving it. Recognize triggers and identify what specific feedback makes you defensive and why. Accept that everyone has areas for improvement, including you. Practice appreciating the effort someone took to provide feedback, even if it stings. By separating your ego from feedback, you open the door to genuine growth as a venture capital leader.

Here's how you can handle feedback in Venture Capital without becoming defensive. Feedback is easy to give, but belief is hard to hold. When your belief depends on funding from investors, it becomes even more challenging. Funding is the resource to build up your belief/passion. If the passion and investor's goal differ significantly, as a startup founder, you should consider finding other resources to help you achieve them.